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THE ARGTTS, THURSDAY, APRIH 19, 1906.
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SAN FRANCISCO'S PLIGHT HOURLY GROWING MORE HOPELESS PEOPLE CEASE FIGHTING FIRE AND FLEE FOR THEIR LIVES
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ported. Three thieves were shot dead
by the police:
REFUGEES AT I,OS AXGEl.ES.
Lo Armeies, Cat., April 19. Sur
vivors of the San Francisco earthquake
arrived in the oity at noon on a train
of the Southern Pacific.
Many of them are in a pitiable con
dition. They relate s'ories graphic in
detail and a!mot unbelievable.
ROCKEFELLBB GIVES 9100,000.
New York, April 19. John D. Rocke
feller today authorized his agents at
San Francisco to expend $100,000 for
the relief of the destitute.
WIXD KISI.NG.
San Francisco, April 19. The West
ern Union and Southern Pacific build
ings have been totally destroyed, and
the fire is burning rapidly in a diaaonal
line up the hill, commencing at McAl
lister and ending at Battery street, and
on Main street as far as Sixteenth
street. The wind is rising. The mili
tary authorities have forbidden anyone
to enter the city. There is great suf
fering for fcod and water. Thousands
of .people are lined up in the park wait
ing for the soldiers to distribute water.
THOUSANDS AT OAKLAND.
Oakland, April 19. Thousands of
refugees from San Francisco have
come to this city. Relief stations have
been established at the city ha'l, and
various public parks, theaters and
churches. At present it is impossible
to estimate the amount -of damage to
property in this city. Many structures,
which, outside show little apparent
damage, on close examination, prove
to have been badly twisted and racked
by the shock.
SPREADS TO KXn IIII.I,.
New York, April 19. The Western
Union reports early this morning the
fire spread into the Knob Hill section
of San Francisco. This section con
tains many fine residences, including
the Crocker and Huntington hemes.
-MIXT WITH 30,0.000 ESC A PEC.
Washington, April 19. The mint at
San Francisco escaped serious damage
from the earthquake and the resulting
conflagration. Its stock of gold and
silver coin bullion, about $39,000,000, is
safe. Director oS the Mint Roberts re
ceived a telegram from Superintendent
Leach to that effect.
The commandant of the Mare Island
navy yards reports $1,000 will cover
the damage done there.
REPORT CITV DOOVED.
Washington, April 19. The war de
partment has just received the follow
ing from the Western Union:
"Outside cities have been sending fire
engines to aid Ssn Francisco in sub
duing the flame, but were found use
less on account of no water, and they
are returning home. Firemen report
the city is doomed."
MORE SHOCKS AT WASHINGTON.
Washington, April 19. The weather
bureau has issued a bulletin saying
two small earthquake shocks were re
corded cn the siesmograph at the bu
reau here at 8:46 last evening and at
2:03 this morning. The first shock
was decidedly stronger than the last,
although both were very slight com
pared to the original disturbances.
C. L.IKORN I A NS GO HOVE.
Chicago, April 19. Every train leav
ing Chicago for California today was
crowded to tho IVnit with half frantic
residents of San Francisco.
FIRST CONNECTED TALE
OF GREATEST CALAMITY
THE COAST HAS KNOWN
Oakland, CaL, April 19. The earth
quake and fire have caused the great
est calamity -California has ever known
In San Francisco alone it is estimat
ed 1,000 persons perished, while as
many more were injured. The entire
business portion of the city is in ruins,
and the flames which, owing to the
lack of water, cannot be checked ex
cept by blowing up with dynamite the
buildings in their path, are still sweep
ing through' the city. It is utterly im
possible at present to estimate tho
property loss. Thousands of people
are homeless and many are huddled in
the parks and public squares, besides
such household goods as they were
able to save.
The city is under martial law, and
all down town streets are patrolled
by cavalry and infantry. Details or
troops are also guarding the banks.
Most of the principal buildings have
been destroyed and others are in im
minent danger. Over all the desola
tion is seen a dense pall of smoke.
Communication with outside towns
is almost entirely cut off, but the re
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port comes from Palo Alto that all
but one of the buildings at Stanford
university are wrecked, and that the
splendid memorial church, one of the
first in the world, is a mass of. ruins.
One student was killed.
In Oakland five persons were killed.
San Jose, Sacramento, Berkeley, Ala
meda, and other places heard from
suffered severely, but report no loss
of life. . '
EARTHQUAKE SHOCK CAME
WITHOUT A WARNING."
The dreadful earthquake shock came
without warning at precisely 5:13 its
motion apparently being from east to
west. At first the upheaval of the
earth was gradual, but in a few sec
onds it increased in Intensity. Chim
neys began to fall and buildings to
crack, tottering on their foundations.
People became panic stricken and
rushed into the street, most of them
in their night attire. They were met
by showers of falling bricks,, cornices
and walls. Many were instantly
crushed to death and others dread
fully mangled. Those who remained
indoors general escaped with their
lives though scores were hit by de
tached plaster and articles thrown to
the floor by the shock. It is believed
more or less of a loss has been sustain
ed by nearly every fajnily In the city.
STEEL STRUCTURES STOOD THE
SHOCK THE BEST.
The tall steel frame structures stooa
the strain better than brick buildings,
few of them being badly damaged.
The big 11-story Monadnock office
building in course of construction, ad
joining the Palace hotel, was an ex
ception, its rear wall collapsing and
many cracks being made across its
front. Some docks and freight sheds
along the water front slid into the
bay. Deep fissures opened in the
filled-ln ground near the shore and the
union ferry depot was almost wrecked.
A portion of the new city hall, cost
ing more than $7,000,000, collapsed, the
roof sliding into the court yard and
the smaller towers tumbling down..
The great dome was moved, but did
not fall. - !
The new postoffice, one of the finest
in the United States, was badly shat
tered. The Valencia hotel, a four-
story wooden building. 6ank into the
basement a pile of splintered timbers.
under which were pinned many dead
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and dying occupants of the house. The
basement was full of water and some
of the helpless victims' drowned.
FIRES IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW
; THE EARTHQUAKE.
Scarcely had the earth ceased to
shake when fires broke out fdmultan
eously in many places. The fire de
partment promptly responded to fire
calls for aid, but it was found the
water mains were rendered useless by
the ' underground movement. The
flames quickly spread and soon many
blocks were seen to be doomed. Dy
namite was resorted to and the sound
of the frequent explosions added to
the disorder of the people. All ef
forts to check the progress of the firo
proved futile.
SCORES OF FINE BUILDINGS PREY
TO THE FLAMES.
The south side of Market street,
from Ninth street to the bay, was soon
ablaze, the fire covering a belt two
blocks wide. On this thoroughfare are
located many of the finest edifices, in
cluding the Grant, Parrott, Flood.
Call, Examiner, and Monadnock build
ings, the Palace and Grand hotels, and
numerous wholesale houses. At the
same time the commercial establish
ments and banks north of Market
street were burning.
The burning district In this section
extended from Sansom street to the
waterfront, and from Market street
to Broadway. Fires also broke out in
Mission street and the entire city
seemed to be in flames.
FIERCE FLAMES FANNED BY A
RISING BREEZE.
The flames, fanned by the rising
breeze, swept the main wholesale bus
iness streets. It was impossible to
reach the center of the city from the
bay without skirting the shore for a
long distance so as to get entirely
around the burning district. About 8
o'clock Southern Pacific officials refus
ed: to allow an3 more passengers from
trans-bay points to land and sent back
those already on the boats.
SCENE OF AWFUL SPLENDOR
. ' FROM THE BURNING CITY.
Here thousands of people congregat
ed and witnessed the awful scene.
Great sheets of flame rose high in the
heavens or rushed down some narrow
street, joining midway between the
sidewalks and making a horizontal
chimney of the former passageways. I
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The dense smoke that arose from the
entire business district spread1 out like
an immense funnel and could be seen
for miles out at sea. Occasionally, as
some drug house or place stored, with
chemicals was reached, most fantastic
effects were produced by the colored
flames and smoke which rolled out
against the darker background.
All efforts to prevent the fire reach
ing the Palace and Grand hotels were
unsuccessful, and both were complete
ly destroyed, together with contents.
All of San. Francisco's best play
houses are a mass of ruins. The
earthquake demolished them for all
practical purposes and fire completed
the work of demolition. The Rialto
and Casserly buildings burned to the
ground as was every thing else in that
district.
ENTIRE WHOLESALE PORTION OF
CITY IS WIPED OUT.
The Parrott building, in which were
located the chambers of the state su
preme court, the lower floors occupied
by an immense department store, was
ruined and burned, though its massive
walls were not all destroyed. Far
ther down Market street, the Academy
of Science, the Jennie Flood building
and the History building were kindled
and burned like so much tinder. Sparks
were carried across the street and ig
nited the Phelan building and the
army headquarters of the department
of California were burned. Still near
ing the bay, the fire took the Rialto
building, a handsome skyscraper, and
converted scores of solid- business
blocks into smouldering piles of brick.
The banks and commercial houses,
supposed, to be fireproof, burned quick
ly, and the roar of flames could be
heard on the hills out of the danger
zone.
TRAINS FROM THE CITY CROWD
ED WITH REFUGEES.
Washington, April 19. A Western
Union dispatch says shocks were re
ported as far east as Hazen, Nev. No
one is allowed to enter San Francisco
and boats, and trains are crowded with
refugees.
ONE TOWN IN SOUTHERN PART
OF STATE DAMAGED, 5 Q
Los Angeles, April 19. A report
from, Brawley, a town of 500 popula
tion, 120 miles south of here, states the
town was practically wiped out by
three earthquakes yesterday. This is
the only town in southern California
known to have suffered from the
shock. As far as is known there were 1
no fatalities.
LITTLE LOSS - WAS CAUSED AT
STOCKTON AND FRESNO.
Stockton, April 19. Little or no dam
age was clone here.
Fresno, April 19. The earthquake,
uia no uamage nere, aitnougn tne
shock was the heaviest ever felt at
Fresno. At Los Banos, on the border
line of the county, heavy damage was
done. The loss is $75,000. No fatali
ties. DISTRICT AS FAR AS NEW FAIR
MOUNT HOTEL IS RAZED.
San Francisco, April 19. The entire
GREAT EARTHQUAKES OF HISTORY.
Uvea I-ost.
Lisbon, Portugal, Nov. 1, 1755 . 50.000
Lima, l'eru, Drrrmbrr, 1862 70,000
Lisbon I'ortattnl Feb. 20, 1531 30.000
MJno Oirarl, Japan, Oct. 28, 1801 H.OO0
Lima, IVni, March, 1837 t 17,000
CnNtcllamare, Italy, April 18, 1856 14,000
I. Ins, AuMrla. March 20, 1634 2100
Colombo Inland of Ceylon, March, 181 16.0O0
SmnarnnK, Jnva, July, 1870 , 100,000
Casanacclola, It air, July 28, 1883 3.000
The Riviera. Italy, Feb. 23 and 2-1, 1887 , 1,000
Naples, Dec. 10, 1857 10,000
Chundernajtore, India, Jane 12, 1807. ." 3500
Charleston. 8. C Auk. 31, 1886 183
Calabria, Italy, November, 1005 40 vIIIukcs destroyed 10,OO
Querentnnaro, Honduras, September, 10O5 1,500
Ouatemala. April 18, 11M)2 six town destroyed vOO
Mlsucatlln, Oaiara, Mexico, April 12, UK) I 50
Guayaquil, Ecuador, Jan. 18, 1001 150
Ilakone, Japan, Jan. 12, 1001 SOO
Foajicla, Italy, June 16, 1900 123
Isle of Chios, Aegean sea, 1105 Kntlre population obliterated
Kagl, Formosa, April 3, 1006 Four toma destroyed
PREVIOUS EARTHQUAKES IN FRISCO.
Lives Lost. Damaite.
Dee. 24, 1840, tn ahocka 20 18.000
June 22, 1831, Ave abocks 11 l&I.OOO
Slay 4, 1863, two shocks 73 200,000
Jan. 21, 1871, three ahocka .' 15 1 15.000
June 10,' l&HO, one ahock 2 45,000
June 20, 1887, one ahock O 50,000
GREAT FIRES OF SAN FRANCISCO.
I, OHM.
June 20, 1861, business section destroyed 1575,000
April 24, 1877, residence section swept 230.000
May 5, 1850, town practically w iped out I n know n
There Is
No Place Like
For
Clothing
district up as far as the new Fairmount
hotel on top of Knob Hill and Califor
nia street between Powell and Mason
streets is all gone. It is reported 10",.
)0( people are homeless. At 0:30 (San
Francisco time) the fire was not und r
control. The water supply was again
cut off.
IMPOSSIBLE TO SEND PRIVATE
TELEGRAPH MESSAGES TO CITY.
Ixs Anseles. April 19. No private
messages were pent over the one wire
open to San Francisco on the Postal
Telegraph lines. Before the offices of
the company an excited crowd of men
and women surged back and forth, im
ploring the officials to send messages
(Continued on Page Six.)
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